$60,000 Gift Boosts UH Hilo Athletics

HILO – A Japanese businessman with strong ties to the Hawai‘i Island has pledged $60,000 to create two funds to benefit the UH Hilo Vulcans Athletics Program. His gift will support student athletes and the Vulcans coaching staff.

How his gift will benefit UH Hilo Athletics:

The Hikozaemon Takahashi Coaches Fund for Excellence supports the UH Hilo Athletics recruitment program and will make it possible for coaches to travel throughout Hawai‘i and the nation to meet and recruit athletic talent. Currently, coaches rely on their own personal funds and other limited donor funds to pay for travel.

The Hikozaemon Takahashi Scholarship provides financial assistance for student-athletes and can be used for their tuition, books and equipment.

Chancellor Donald Straney said, ““We are most grateful to our donor for investing in our athletics program. By growing our recruitment capabilities and scholarship opportunities, our program can flourish.”

UH Hilo Athletics Director Dexter Irvin added, “The UH Hilo Athletics program has twelve sports, including basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, and golf. Our goal is to ensure that all scholar-athletes receive scholarship support and that we have the means to recruit top talent.” Irvin concluded, “This generous gift will have an immediate, positive impact on the program.”

The donor added, “The aloha from the people of Hawai‘i is special and unique. This gift is a small gesture of my appreciation and gratitude of Hawai‘i"

The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. www.uhfoundation.org